Suparṇa
Suparṇa · su-parṇa, “the one with fine wings”
Grammar: masculine noun, a compound of su (fine) and parṇa (wing).
Meaning: the one with fine wings.
In the scriptures: the word has three uses in the Bhavishya Purāṇa.
- A ray of Sūrya. Nārada tells Sāmba twenty words for the rays of Bhagavān Sūrya, and Suparṇa is among them (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 78).
- A class of beings. In the bali mantra of the rathayātrā of Bhagavān Sūrya, one prays that the Ādityas, Vasus, Maruts, Aśvins, Rudras, Suparṇas, sarpas and the others on the ratha accept the bali (Brahma Parva, Chapter 55). One who keeps the Kāmotsava every year finds the suparṇas, with Vishṇu, Brahmā, the grahas and others, pleased with him (Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136).
- The first of the birds. On the citrapaṭa of the bhuvanas are painted the birds beginning with Suparṇa (Uttara Parva, Chapter 191).
Related terms: Garuḍa · Raśmi
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 55, 78; Uttara Parva, Chapters 133–136, 191